Nutritional Values of Pork Sausage Links

by
SARAH DAVIS Oct. 03, 2017

Sarah Davis

Sarah Davis has worked in nutrition in the clinical setting and currently works as a licensed Realtor in California. Davis began writing about nutrition in 2006 and had two chapters published in "The Grocery Store Diet" book in 2009. She enjoys writing about nutrition and real estate and managing her website, RealtorSD.com. She earned her bachelor's degree in nutrition from San Diego State University.

A close-up of sausage links cooking in a pan.
Photo Credit: goglik83/iStock/Getty Images

Pork sausage links are a type of sausage made from ground pork, herbs and spices. While many sausage links combine pork and beef, most pork sausage uses only pork meat. It is usually formed into a casing, cooked then eaten as a breakfast food or chopped into small pieces and served as an appetizer at parties. Pork sausage links do provide certain nutrients, but they are also high in fat and calories.

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Calories

According to CalorieKing.com, one pork sausage link is about 4 inches long and weighs 2.4 oz. on average. The nutritional database website Calorie King explains that there are 265 calories in each pork sausage link. The calories can really add up because many people eat two or three sausages at a time. Eating too many calories can contribute to weight gain, so anyone watching their weight may want to limit their portion sizes with pork sausage links.

Fat

Calorie King says one pork sausage link has approximately 21.6 g of total fat and 7.7 g of saturated fat. The American Heart Association recommends limiting total fat to 25 percent to 35 percent of daily calorie intake and limiting saturated fat to less than 7 percent of daily calories. This is because saturated fat, which is found mostly in meats and dairy products, can increase dietary cholesterol, clog arteries and lead to heart disease.

Protein

One of the nutritional benefits of pork sausage links is that they are high in dietary protein. Calorie King says a pork sausage link has 15.1 g of protein, which is required by the body to maintain muscle mass, provide energy and allow for the production of healthy hormones.

Carbohydrates

Meats naturally contain no carbohydrates, which come from plants, not animals. CalorieKing.com says a pork sausage link has 1.4 g of carbohydrates. These carbs are most likely from the spices and flavorings as well as any preservatives used in processing pork sausage links.

Potassium

A pork sausage link contains 228.5 mg of potassium, according to CalorieKing.com. Potassium is a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure and water balance in the body. It also allows for smooth muscle contraction and regular digestive system function. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends that adults get 2,000 mg of potassium daily from foods or dietary supplements.